WWE Extreme Rules 2011: Predictions and What to Expect

After the extremely sub-par WrestleMania XXVII, the WWE brings us Extreme Rules 2011. Needless to say, the WWE has a lot to make up for after the worst WrestleMania in recent memory, and The Rock isn’t around to bail out the WWE.

Come May 1, we will see The Miz mount yet another WWE Title defense, a Ladder Match for the World Heavyweight Championship, and one more unwanted match featuring Jerry “The King” Lawler and Michael Cole.

While these three matches have already been announced, there is sure to be much more added to the card. Here is what I see happening at WWE Extreme Rules 2011 and what to expect from each match.

I think it's painfully obvious now that The Miz is a weak champion and the WWE has to hide it by putting mid-carders in the title picture so Miz can beat them and retain his title. We saw this first with John Morrison and now we're seeing it with R-Truth.

The WWE has no other ways in which the Miz can steal another title defense from one of their top superstars, so R-Truth has been given the duty of laying down for the Miz so that he can retain his WWE Title and claim another victory over John Cena, which is exactly what will happen.

WrestleMania XVIII is a long way off, so don't expect to see The Rock getting involved with this match in any sort of way. On the other hand, The Miz still has Alex Riley, who has turned out to be the best partner The Miz could ever hope for.

Can this finally be the time where we see Christian win a major title in the WWE? That’s the obvious question everyone has been asking themselves.

To answer this question, I turn to two tragic figures in the WWE’s past: Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero. For both wrestlers, their world title wins seemed more like lifetime achievement awards than legitimate title victories- not to say that neither men did not deserve to be world champions, but that they spent most of their careers in the mid card and only received world title reigns after years and years of service.

I see Extreme Rules ending in a very similar fashion to WrestleMania XX: a well-deserved World Heavyweight Championship celebration in the middle of the ring with Edge holding up Christian’s hand high.

Regardless of which man wins this match, we will see a first-time champion emerge. For that, I applaud the WWE.

Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler vs Michael Cole and Jack Swagger

I don’t think that this is Jack Swagger’s much-needed face turn, but you can sure bet on Jack Swagger, JR, and the King beating the living hell out of Michael Cole.

After the backlash against the Cole/Lawler match post-WrestleMania, I see this match making up for the atrocity that was Michael Cole beating Jerry Lawler.

And like I said, Swagger doesn’t turn face here but continues to go on and fight anyone/thing that he doesn’t like, more like a tweener that won’t take crap from anyone...not like a Stone Cold or a Randy Orton wannabe, but a new Jack Swagger.

The Matches to Be Added: Cody Rhodes vs Rey Mysterio

This next section includes the matches I believe will be added to Extreme Rules 2011 and what their outcomes will be.

By far the best and most underrated feud right now in the WWE is between these two men. Based on the fact that Cody beat Mysterio at WrestleMania, these two should have a long, healthy feud.

Expect this match to be a lot like the match they had at Mania, but with the hatred turned up to 11. This should be a very personal match, filled with lots of animosity. Each wrestler won’t just try to beat the other, but to hurt and humiliate them.

Expect the knee brace and (more importantly) the mask to play important roles in this match. Rey wins after Rhodes takes things one step too far in trying to embarrass Mysterio. This match should set up the inevitable mask vs. mask match at Over the Limit.

CM Punk vs Randy Orton: Cage Match

The New Nexus is back. I expect this to be a cage match because it will “keep Nexus out of the ring,” which is something we all know isn’t true.

Whether clean or dirty, Punk wins this match. No one in the WWE needs a win more than he does.

As much as I’d personally like to see Punk beat Orton 1-2-3 in the middle of the ring or watch him tap to the Anaconda Vice, Iron Orton (as opposed to Super Cena) is too hot right now for the WWE to let that happen.

Therefore, expect the New Nexus to get involved in this match and help Punk go over.

US Title Match: Sheamus vs. Dolph Ziggler

This might be my boldest prediction of the bunch.

I know we don’t see a heel vs heel match very often, but expect this match to get thrown on last minute as Vickie will use her super-whiny powers to get Dolph into a title match, only to meet Sheamus’ big boot and possibly even a High Cross.

Ziggler is small enough of a wrestler for Sheamus to deliver it to.

Most people would expect Sheamus to be having a match here against Sin Cara, but I think we’ll need some more time to pass before we see Cara’s PPV match debut.

After the numerous botches in his match with Primo on RAW and the apparent backstage unhappiness with how he has come off so far, I don’t feel that Vince is quite ready to throw him in a title match on a PPV.

However, expect Sin Cara to come out and attack Sheamus once his match is over, again getting the best of the fiery Irishman.